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Do I need an allergen awareness certificate in Massachusetts?

In Massachusetts, each food service establishment must have at least one person in charge who is a certified food protection manager with allergen training. The certificate counts for 5 years from the day it was issued. The state no longer approves specific courses, but deems a course approved if it meets its rules. That person must also make sure all employees are trained.

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The rule, fact by fact

Who needs it
At least one person in charge who is a certified food protection managerThat person must also have completed allergen training.
Verified. www.mass.gov (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Valid for
Valid for 5 years from the date it was issuedThat holds no matter what the training provider says, and for certificates issued before October 7, 2024 too.
Same source and date as above
Course approval
DPH no longer reviews and approves specific training coursesIt deems a course approved if it is ANSI ANAB accredited and has the state's allergen content, is FARE approved, or is an interactive video with an exam and that content.
Same source and date as above
Staff training
All employees, trained in food allergy awareness for their assigned dutiesThe person in charge has to make sure that happens.
Same source and date as above

How to get it done

  1. Step 1. Check that the rule covers your workplace. The state's document outlines the food allergen awareness requirements for retail food establishments in Massachusetts. Each food service establishment shall have at least one person in charge who is a certified food protection manager and has completed allergen training. The person in charge shall also ensure that all employees are properly trained in food safety, including food allergy awareness, as it relates to their assigned duties.

  2. Step 2. Pick a course the state will deem approved. Effective October 7, 2024, DPH no longer reviews and approves specific training courses. It deems training approved if a course meets one or more of these tests. The course has accreditation from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) National Accreditation Board Standards (ANAB) and includes the allergen content the state specifies. Or Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) approves the course as part of its FAREcheck program. Or, if the course is not otherwise accredited or approved, it includes an interactive video, an exam to assess knowledge, and the allergen content areas the state specifies.

  3. Step 3. Take the course. A training video must be interactive, must conclude with an exam that tests your knowledge, and must include all of the required competence areas. The required content includes what to do if a customer has an allergic reaction: call 911, detail the symptoms and instruct a staff member to stay with the customer until help arrives.

  4. Step 4. Keep your certificate. Food establishments must have a certified food protection manager on staff who holds an allergen training certificate that the Department has approved. Massachusetts counts the certificate as valid for 5 years from the date it was issued, no matter what the training provider says.

Before you pay

Ask whether the course meets one of the state's tests before you pay: ANSI ANAB accredited with the state's allergen content, FARE approved, or an interactive video with an exam and that content.

Don't rely on a date the provider prints. The state counts the certificate as valid for 5 years from the date it was issued, no matter what the training provider says.

If you are an employee and not the person in charge, ask your employer before you buy. The state puts the duty to make sure all employees are trained on the person in charge.

We haven't confirmed what these courses cost or which ones can be taken online, so ask the provider.

Questions

Does an alternate person in charge need training?

The state says the certified food protection manager designates an alternate person in charge when they cannot be present. That manager must also ensure the alternate is adequately trained in allergen awareness.

What does the person in charge have to know about allergens?

The person in charge must be capable of demonstrating knowledge of foods identified as major allergens. They must also know the symptoms a major food allergen could cause in a sensitive individual who has an allergic reaction. This also applies to any alternate person in charge.

Does my workplace have to post anything?

Yes. Food establishments must prominently display a DPH approved poster related to major food allergens in the employee work area, no smaller than 8.5 by 11 inches. All printed menus and menu boards must also carry a clear and conspicuous notice asking customers to tell the server about a food allergy before placing an order.

Which foods count as major allergens in Massachusetts?

The state's document lists nine: milk, egg, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, wheat, peanuts, soybeans and sesame. A major food allergen could also include a food ingredient that contains protein derived from a food containing a major food allergen.

What to do next

Start with the state's retail food code standards for allergen awareness. Know first who is the person in charge at your workplace and whether that person has an allergen training certificate.

www.mass.gov

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